Piper Laurie, the Oscar-nominated actress who played memorable roles in films such as ‘Carrie’, ‘The Hustler’, and ‘Children of a Lesser God’, as well as in the cult TV series ‘Twin Peaks’, died on Saturday at her home in Los Angeles. She was 91 years old and had been ill for some time, according to her manager Marion Rosenberg.
A career spanning seven decades
Laurie began her acting career in 1949, when she was signed by Universal-International and given a new name (she was born Rosetta Jacobs). She appeared in several films with stars like Ronald Reagan, Rock Hudson, and Tony Curtis, but felt dissatisfied with the quality of the roles. She once said that she was “a contract player who had no control over anything”.
She decided to leave Hollywood in 1955 and moved to New York, where she pursued more challenging roles in theater and live television. She earned Emmy nominations for her performances in ‘Days of Wine and Roses’, ‘The Deaf Heart’, and ‘The Road That Led After’. She also returned to films with a critically acclaimed role as Paul Newman’s girlfriend in ‘The Hustler’ (1961), for which she received her first Oscar nomination.
A comeback with a horror classic
Laurie took a break from acting again in the 1960s, after marrying film critic Joseph Morgenstern and giving birth to a daughter, Anne Grace. She said that she was influenced by the civil rights movement and the Vietnam war to seek a more meaningful life. She also devoted herself to painting and baking, and published a cookbook in 1976.
She made a comeback with a stunning performance as the fanatical mother of Sissy Spacek’s telekinetic teenager in Brian De Palma’s horror classic ‘Carrie’ (1976). She earned her second Oscar nomination for the role, which she initially thought was a comedy. She later said that she enjoyed playing such a “wild” character.
A versatile performer on stage and screen
Laurie continued to work in films, television, and theater throughout the 1980s and 1990s. She received her third Oscar nomination for playing the mother of a deaf woman (Marlee Matlin) in ‘Children of a Lesser God’ (1986). She also won a Golden Globe for her role as Catherine Martell, a scheming businesswoman, in David Lynch’s surreal TV series ‘Twin Peaks’ (1990-1991).
She appeared in several stage productions, including ‘The Glass Menagerie’, ‘Morning’s at Seven’, and ‘Long Day’s Journey into Night’. She also wrote an autobiography, titled ‘Learning to Live Out Loud’, which was published in 2011. She revealed many details about her personal and professional life, including her affairs with Ronald Reagan and Marlon Brando.
A legacy of talent and humanity
Laurie was widely praised for her talent and versatility as an actress, as well as for her humanity and kindness as a person. Her manager Rosenberg said that she was “one of the finest actresses of her generation and a superb human being”. Turner Classic Movies called her “one of the most celebrated and formidable actresses of the last half-century”.
Many celebrities and fans expressed their condolences and admiration for Laurie on social media. Sissy Spacek said that she was “heartbroken” by the news of Laurie’s death, and called her “a brilliant actress and a beautiful soul”. David Lynch said that he was “very sad” to hear about Laurie’s passing, and praised her as “a great person with a tremendous range”.
